Woman Threatened for Smoking During Pregnancy

Public concern seems to come with the territory of pregnancy. I've had complete strangers in the store want to touch my belly or ask me how I'm feeling, their brows wrinkled with pity at my uncomfortable pregnancy waddle. Maybe it's the mentality of taking a village to raise a child. But at what point does that public attention cross the lines of privacy and decency? One man in Washington state took his concern to an alarming level by brandishing a gun on a woman who was smoking during pregnancy.

According to CBS News, Justin Palmer stopped his pickup truck when he noticed a pregnant woman on the sidewalk smoking a cigarette. Palmer allegedly shouted at the woman, "Who the heck smokes when they're pregnant?" The woman answered, "I do."

The man then reportedly exchanged more heated words with the woman. He finally pulled out a handgun and pointed it at her, but drove off without firing the gun.

The woman called the police. Officers stopped Palmer and found two semiautomatic handguns in his truck. The man was arrested for further investigation.

Personally, I don't think women should smoke while pregnant. Many studies show that smoking during pregnancy causes long-term damage in developing babies, in addition to all the health risks to the mom. But at the same time, women are still free to make their own healthy (or unhealthy) choices during pregnancy. It's just tough knowing that an unborn baby can't speak up for himself.

This reminds me of a hidden camera investigation I saw once. A fake-pregnant actress sat at a bar tossing back round after round of drinks (actually non-alcoholic, thanks to the bartender who was in on everything). Cameras caught the other bar patrons' reactions. Some ignored the pregnant woman. Others shook their heads, shot her dirty looks, or mumbled comments to their friends. Some people actually came over to talk to the woman about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy. Interestingly, of the people who talked to the pregnant woman, some were very accusatory ("How dare you!") and some genuinely wanted to help a woman who seemed desperate enough to get publicly drunk with a baby on board. The whole situation caused quite a stir.

I'm not sure what I'd do. I've been on either side of the table—both as the pregnant woman receiving the advice and the concerned bystander wanting to speak up. I certainly wouldn't threaten anyone at gunpoint. But would I have chatted with a stranger about the dangers of smoking cigarettes during pregnancy? Probably not. Ultimately, a mother makes her own choices.

If you saw a pregnant woman putting her baby's health in danger, would you confront her? Has anyone ever confronted you during pregnancy? Share your experience in the comments section.

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Nicole Stevens

Nicole Stevens is a 30-something mom of four adorable kids. Her passions include spending time with her babies and doing research in the laboratory. She also enjoys crafts, photography, crochet, reading, and long walks. Her work has appeared elsewhere on WhattoExpect.com.

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